Skipper Daryl McMahon is enjoying a new lease of life following his decision to quit as youth coach at Dagenham & Redbridge to go full-time with Ebbsfleet United.

For much of last season, McMahon was working 70-hour weeks at Dagenham in addition to his Fleet commitments – and his performances suffered as a result. But now the midfielder not only trains three mornings a week with Ebbsfleet, he also manages their academy.

Daryl McMahon celebrates one of his 19 goals for Ebbsfleet United Picture: John Westhrop

The 31-year-old’s new-look working week has allowed him to rediscover his best form, with McMahon consistently running games from midfield and weighing in with some spectacular goals.

Fleet manager Steve Brown said: "People don’t understand and appreciate what goes on behind the scenes. Last year Macca was working more hours than the average man and trying to keep a high tempo in training and a level of performance on a Saturday.

"I can honestly pinpoint Macca leaving Dagenham and coming here as the transformation in his performances. If you look at the goals he scored in the first half of last season, it’s something like two or three, and if you look at his goals at the back-end of last season, there were about eight.

"It was no coincidence that it was moving out of Dagenham and into a job here that elevated his performances to captain’s performances."